Anyone Know Why The Btcc Engines Had 2 Oil Fillers?

[nogoat]

one is good....two is better?

not if it is a speeding ticket or knocked up one night stands

[Texas850Turbo]

I called tom warlkinshaw and asked him about the double fillers and he said that during the btcc run they simply could not get the rear main seal to hold up for over a few laps so they needed to get 3-4 quarts of oil into the engine every pit stop- so they added the second filler in order to decrease pit stop times- they had two guys dumping oil into the motor every time in. as it turned out the huge anount of oil thet were spewing on the tracks was a major benifit and helped them develop a race strategy- they dropped to the back of the pack on purpose, and spewed oil on the leaders, causing them to crash, and then late in the race sped to the front of the pack. of course they had a hard time getting the awd audis to crash, but it worked pretty good, lots of second place finishes behind the audi's! tom is smart guy!

Is this believable?

I'm going with the theory that the plug wasn't allowed due to safety regulations, so they had to put a cap in.

[jross]

Having just finished wading through the BTCC regulations, I don't see anything at all indicating a "freeze plug" is not allowed. I'm personally partial to the "oil change" hypothesis, but I would like to see evidence.

By the way, I have to admire regulation 5.1 of the 2005 BTCC Touring Class Regulations.

5 Permitted Modifications

5.1 If it doesn't say you can, you can't.

[GShyneDM]

Having just finished wading through the BTCC regulations, I don't see anything at all indicating a "freeze plug" is not allowed. I'm personally partial to the "oil change" hypothesis, but I would like to see evidence.

By the way, I have to admire regulation 5.1 of the 2005 BTCC Touring Class Regulations.

Very smart of them. ;)

[jross]

Very smart of them.

Yeah.. at first I thought I was reading a sort of unofficial summary when I saw that, but it was preceeded by this:

1 GENERAL

These Technical Regulations published by TOCA Limited, for use in the BTC Touring class of the British Touring Car Championship (including those which are published in the BTCC Homologation Manual incorporating the homologation forms, in the accompanying appendices and those which are contained within the BTC Touring Technical Manual and Homologation Papers) are absolute. No tolerances, unless specifically stated, are implied. Non-compliance with any provision of the Technical Regulations, whether intentional or not, shall be reported to the BTCC Clerk for the application of penalties laid down in the Sporting Regulations.

Race Cars competing in the Championship shall be designed, constructed and maintained so as to ensure that any such competing car (and/or any of the components used) complies with these Technical Regulations throughout practice, official qualifying and races at each Meeting. It is the sole responsibility of the competitor to ensure that the competing car complies with the Technical Regulations at all times.

TOCA has the right to amend or vary the Technical Regulations at any time before or during the Championship and further to issue additional statements concerning the Technical Regulations from time to time, subject to MSA approval and all such statements, amendments and variations will be issued in a bulletin to MSA and all registered Competitors by posting to the address detailed on the Championship Registration Form or sending to the e-mail address detailed on the Championship Registration Form or faxing to the fax number detailed on the Championship Registration Form, or delivery to the competitor by hand. All Competitors, teams, manufacturers and team members agree to be bound by the Technical Regulations including any amendments, variations or statements relating thereto and to procure compliance by persons associated with them. Only bulletins, clarifications or directives issued by the Co-Ordinator under the instruction of the Administrator will be effective in the Championship.

No express or implied warranty of safety is given or shall arise from the publication of, and compliance with, these Technical Regulations.

For the avoidance of doubt the expression Technical Regulations includes the BTC Touring Technical regulations and the BTC Technical Manual.

1.1 Final Text

The final text for these Technical Regulations shall be the English version, which will be used should any dispute arise over their interpretation.

So I think 5.1 is the thing and the whole of the thing.

The rest of the engine regs:

6. ENGINES

6.1 The Engine must be homologated by the Manufacturer and/or the Tuner and incorporate all Kit Parts and Specified Parts.

Please also refer to Sporting Regulation 1.16.

6.2 Engine block:

The original axis of the cylinders must be retained, sleeving or re-sleeving of the cylinder bores is allowed; material of the sleeves is free. Machining of all surfaces is allowed.

6.3 Cylinder head:

The position and the axis of the cylinders and ports must be retained, as must the axis and angle of the valves. The removal of material is allowed subject to the restrictions in these Technical Regulations.

6.4 Compression ratio:

Maximum 12:1 with no account taken of volume down from which ever is the lower of the piston crown or block top face to the top piston ring.

6.5 Cylinder head gasket:

Free.

6.6 Fuel feed and induction system:

6.6.1 Control of the intake system:

With at least one valve in each cylinder shut and the Engine throttles open, the complete intake system from the specified throttle body must be capable of sustaining a vacuum of 0.2 bar.

Alternatively, if all the valves are shut, either by removing the camshaft(s) or following a repair carried out under the supervision of the Scrutineers, a vacuum of 0.267 bar must be sustained.

Any device used for checking the vacuum must have a maximum nominal output of 35 litres per minute and be capable of obtaining a vacuum of 0.734 bar to 0.867 bar for zero airflow.

6.6.2 Restrictor Size:

The Administrator may vary the size of the specified throttle body for any Competitor. Please refer to Sporting Regulation 1.11.2a.

6.6.3 It is not permitted to inject any fuel or additive other than that specified in the Technical Regulations 20.3 & 22.3. The use of any other substance or device to reduce the temperature of the mixture is forbidden (other than the fuel radiator permitted by Technical Regulation 20.1). It is forbidden to use any type of water injection system.

6.6.4 It is permitted to have a composite inlet duct forward of the throttle body,

6.6.5 A standard ECU as specified in Appendix 01 must be used.

6.6.6 Only direct mechanical linkage between the throttle pedal and the Engine is permitted.

6.6.7 Engine revs control:

Control of the revs below the permitted maximum of 8,500rpm is the responsibility of the Competitor. The Competitor must install a data logger supplied by TOCA.

This data logger must be installed and wired up strictly in accordance with the data logger manufacturer's instructions and any wiring diagrams issued. The regulation wiring plug seal must always be intact. The data logger will be checked and certified by the BTCC Chief Scrutineer and/or the BTCC Technical Commissioner and/or the BTCC Eligibility Scrutineer as and when deemed necessary throughout the Meeting.

The Administrator may vary the maximum permitted rpm for any Competitor. Please refer to Sporting Regulation 1.11.2a.

6.7 Camshaft(s):

Belts, pulleys, chains are free, provided production type and position are retained. Any systems that modulate the valve timing or lift, while the Engine is running, are forbidden.

6.8 Valves:

Shims may be added under the springs. Hydraulic cam followers may be changed for solid ones. Valve lift is 12.0mm maximum. Any variable timing system must be rendered inoperative.

6.9 Ignition:

The ECU and Engine harness as specified in Appendix 01 must be used.

The ECU must be installed on the floor on the passenger side in such a manner as to provide direct and easy access, to facilitate inspection and testing procedures which are to be carried out by the BTCC Chief Scrutineer and/or the BTCC Technical Commissioner and/or the BTCC Eligibility Scrutineer.

The ECU must be installed and wired up strictly in accordance with the ECU manufacturer's instructions and wiring diagrams. Any regulation wiring plug seal must always be intact. The ECU will be checked and certified as and when deemed necessary through out the Meeting by the BTCC Chief Scrutineer and/or the BTCC Technical Commissioner and/or the BTCC Eligibility Scrutineer. It is not permitted to install any other device to control the Engine in any way.

Either series production coils or a coil or coils from the specified list must be used.

6.10 Cooling:

Thermostats if fitted are free or they may be removed. The spraying of water is prohibited. A radiator-blanking panel may be fitted within 20mm of the radiator face, but it must not be adjustable while the vehicle is moving.

6.11 Exhaust:

Free after the Kit exhaust manifold but the noise from the Race Car is not to exceed 118 dB (A) at 6375 RPM when measured at 0.5 metres distance and at a 45 degree angle to the point of exit of the exhaust and at a height above the ground of 0.5m 0.1m. No exhaust pipe or pipes may protrude beyond the perimeter of the Race Car's Bodywork as seen from above; furthermore the outlet for the exhaust pipe must be at the rear of the Race Car, not more than 10 cm from the perimeter of the Race Car.

The exhaust system must incorporate a single catalytic converter as specified for the Championship in Appendix 01, it must be functioning at all times and all exhaust gases must pass through it. This catalyst must be positioned forward of the centre line of the rear wheels and before a single circular silencer. All exhaust pipework must be constructed from circular pipe. Twin pipes after the catalyst are prohibited.

All measures, which are taken to ensure that the maximum noise limit is not exceeded, must be permanent in nature, and must not be removed by the exhaust gas pressure. For example a butterfly valve in the exhaust manifold is prohibited.

6.12 Driving belts and pulleys for ancillaries situated outside the Engine:

These are free, in number, location and design.

6.13 Gaskets:

Free.

6.14 Starter:

An electric starter from the list specified in Appendix 01 must be used; it must be capable of starting the Engine at any time by only using energy stored on board.

6.15 Supercharging:

Supercharging is forbidden.

6.16 Sensors:

Only sensors from the list specified in Appendix 01 may be fitted.

[digital_dreamer]

5 Permitted Modifications

5.1 If it doesn't say you can, you can't.

Heh. That one sentence replaced 100 pages of "Do Nots."

My theory on the double fillers:

A plug is there, so why not make it useful. Such as: in the case of a low oil emergency (don't ask me!), fill it up twice as fast. (However, if you're losing oil by the quarts in a 25 lap race, you're on a suicide mission.)

Interesting and funny posts here.

regards,

MAJ

[BlackBeast]

I called tom warlkinshaw and asked him about the double fillers and he said that during the btcc run they simply could not get the rear main seal to hold up for over a few laps so they needed to get 3-4 quarts of oil into the engine every pit stop- so they added the second filler in order to decrease pit stop times- they had two guys dumping oil into the motor every time in. as it turned out the huge anount of oil thet were spewing on the tracks was a major benifit and helped them develop a race strategy- they dropped to the back of the pack on purpose, and spewed oil on the leaders, causing them to crash, and then late in the race sped to the front of the pack. of course they had a hard time getting the awd audis to crash, but it worked pretty good, lots of second place finishes behind the audi's! tom is smart guy!

Thats too funny :D

[NataSS Inc]

You might be suprised what they do on a race car "just because its there".

[Gioseppe]

what about the harmonics of running a 5 cyl engine to 8500 rpm everyday, all day.

especially with using the cover as the bearing caps, more direct to the vibration and harmonics caused by the cams singing at full tilt.

something could just cause it to wiggle lose and pop out.

offtopic: check out the bottom of this wikipedia def. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_850 the VS mob strikes again!

[PyROTech]

im going to do an investigation, first contact an expert to see if he knows then directly track down people that did the engine. ITS NOW MY LIFE GOAL, after i am finished and have the answer i will commit suicide as my life will be complete.

[KS_R]

i think it goes like this

singleturbo<TwinTurbo=more power

2valves<4valves=more power

4cyl<5cyl=more power

1oil filler<2oil fillers=MORE POWA

[fastboy]

im going to do an investigation, first contact an expert to see if he knows then directly track down people that did the engine. ITS NOW MY LIFE GOAL, after i am finished and have the answer i will commit suicide as my life will be complete.

finally!!!!

just kidding.

I can sort of buy the whole filling up at pit stops, but wouldn't the loss of that much oil on to the track equal out to a lot of oil flags around the track and a few cars in The tire barriers. These cars can stick the road plenty good, but oil, hell no... that just doesn't make enough sense.

[GT2]

Some thoughts.

Drysump engines are filled with oil into the drysump tank, with a small amount to splash lube into the engine, so there is no need to "speed" fill the engine at the shop anyway.

However I can buy the "speed" fill at the track, I've heard stranger things!

I do not believe the oil down the track thing! The officials and competetors would never put up with that!

I think if the "speed" fill theory is true its because they were using oil, not leaking it! Those engines were highly stressed.

Tim

[kenhoeve]

southpaw on the pit crew. ergonomics.

[bus stop]

one for motor oil, one for oil treatment (like Engine Restore)

sorry....i don't know the answer.